25 Top Japanese Toners to Elevate Your Skincare Routine

The benefits of using toner

Toner is a crucial skincare product that moisturizes the skin and regulates sebum production. When the skin becomes dry, its ability to retain moisture and protect against external irritants decreases, which can lead to various skin issues. Therefore, toner plays a significant role in replenishing moisture and enhancing the skin's defense mechanisms.

How to use toners

Each time you use a toner, shake the bottle, pour out about a coin-sized amount, and apply it to your face using a damp cotton pad or your hands. For an added boost of hydration, you can also "mask" your face by soaking cotton pads with toner and leaving them on for a few minutes. This allows your skin to fully absorb the toner's essence for deep hydration.

Tips for maintaining the correct skincare order

With a variety of skincare products available, including toners, cleansers, and lotions, you may use them daily without knowing the correct order. Here's a simple guide for your morning and evening skincare routines.

Morning Skincare Routine

• Purpose: Remove sweat and sebum produced during sleep, protect the skin from irritation and UV damage, moisturize skin
• Order: Cleanser → Toner → Serum → Lotion or Cream → Sunscreen

Evening Skincare Routine

• Purpose: Remove makeup and dirt, repair skin affected by UV rays, pollen, and other irritants
• Order: (Makeup remover →) Cleanser → Toner → Serum → Lotion or Cream

9 highly effective moisturizing toners

The air tends to be particularly dry in fall and winter, so we recommend using highly effective moisturizing toners to lock in hydration and keep your skin soft and supple. Here are eight popular toners designed for intense hydration that will help nourish your skin and protect it from dry weather and other external factors.

Cezanne: Skin Conditioner High Moist

The Cezanne's Skin Conditioner High Moist is enriched with hyaluronic acid, collagen, ceramides, and other moisturizing ingredients to enhance overall hydration. The best part is its generous 500 milliliter bottle and budget-friendly price, making it perfect not just for facial care but for full-body use.

Kiku-Masamune: High Moist Skin Care Lotion

The Kiku-Masamune's High Moist Skin Care Lotion is rich in Japanese sake (rice ferment filtrate) and ceramides (moisturizing ingredients,) helping to repair dry and cracked skin for plump, hydrated skin. It also contains placenta extract and arbutin for added moisture. Suitable for face and body, it can be used with cotton pads or tissues. For best results, leave it on dry areas for about five minutes.

Muji: Light Toning Water (High Moisture)

Muji’s Light Toning Water (High Moisture) uses fresh water from Kamaishi City in Iwate Prefecture, and contains purslane and grapefruit seed extracts, as well as Lipidure (polyquaternium-51) for moisturizing, and hyaluronic acid.

It's low-irritation and protects dry, sensitive skin while providing ample hydration. Free from fragrances, colorants, and alcohol, it has passed allergy tests—though this doesn't guarantee no allergic reactions for everyone.

Curél: Moisture Lotion III (Enrich)

Curél’s Moisture Lotion III (Enrich) contains essential moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and anti-inflammatory agents to prevent skin roughness. Combined with the moisturizing eucalyptus extract, it deeply hydrates the stratum corneum, protecting skin from external irritants and dryness, keeping it smooth and moisturized for long periods.

Hada Labo: Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion

Hada Labo's Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion contains a unique fermented hyaluronic acid along with super hyaluronic acid to maintain skin's moisture balance and create a protective barrier against external irritants.

Its serum-like texture soothes dry skin, achieving long-lasting hydration and bouncy skin. Free from fragrances, colorants, and alcohol, it has passed allergy testing and is suitable for all ages and genders.

Ihada: Medicated Lotion (Very Moist)

Ihada's Medicated Lotion (Very Moist) is rich in highly refined petrolatum and two effective ingredients that combat skin roughness. Moisturizing components penetrate the stratum corneum, protecting the skin from dryness and external irritants while maintaining its moisture barrier for plump, bouncy skin. Free from fragrances, colorants, and alcohol, it's suitable for sensitive skin.

Naturie: Hatomugi Skin Conditioner

Naturie's Hatomugi Skin Conditioner contains natural plant-derived job's tears extract to keep the skin hydrated and healthy. Its light, non-sticky texture provides necessary moisture to the skin, soothing dryness and creating smooth, bare skin. It also helps reduce heat from sun exposure, calms and tightens skin, and enhances the absorption of subsequent skincare products like serums and lotions.

Decencia: Ayanasu Highly Moisturizing Lotion

Decencia's Ayanasu Highly Moisturizing Lotion helps maintain skin moisture and enhances the defense function of unstable skin. Its thick texture penetrates the skin, making it smoother and more elastic.

It contains ceramide nano-spheres, a moisturizing ingredient with the same structure as human ceramides, delivered to the stratum corneum to replenish missing ceramides. It also has a gentle scent of geranium and lavender extracted from natural plants.

Ipsa: The Time Reset Aqua

Ipsa's The Time Reset Aqua (Medicated Cosmetic) uses the unique moisturizing component "Aqua Presenter III" to form an artificial water layer on the skin surface, locking in moisture. It replenishes and retains moisture according to the skin's dryness level, keeping it plump and hydrated. It also helps refine skin texture, prevent roughness and acne, creating moisturized, balanced skin that's less prone to oiliness.

4 whitening toners

Looking to boost your skin’s radiance and brightness? We recommend using whitening toners. Here are four best-selling whitening toners from popular brands, including Shiseido's Haku and the anti-aging and whitening brand Pola.

Shiseido: Haku Melano Releaser

Shiseido's Haku Melano Releaser deeply moisturizes the melanin-containing stratum corneum, cleansing and hydrating the skin simultaneously to create smooth, translucent skin.

It contains the whitening active ingredient 4MSK (4-Methoxysalicylic acid potassium salt) to inhibit melanin production and prevent dark spots and freckles. The product has passed allergy testing—though this doesn't guarantee no allergic reactions for everyone.

Pola: White Shot LX

Pola's White Shot LX is a milky-white whitening toner that gives skin a moisturized glow. It contains Japan's whitening-certified ingredient PCE-DP. Its smooth texture seems to melt into the skin, gradually penetrating throughout to create moist, plump, and translucent skin. It also boosts cell vitality, suppresses melanin accumulation, and prevents dark spots and freckles.

Chifure: Whitening Lotion W (Moist Type)

Chifure's Whitening Lotion W (Moist Type) contains the whitening ingredients arbutin and stabilized vitamin C derivative. These dual whitening components work together to inhibit melanin production, helping prevent dark spots and freckles.

Additionally, it includes moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and trehalose. Its smooth texture is easily absorbed—just apply an appropriate amount to a cotton pad or your hands and spread it over your face after cleansing for effortlessly moisturized, supple skin.

Aqua Label: White Care Lotion

Aqua Label's White Care Lotion contains effective ingredients like tranexamic acid and purified water, suitable for preventing dark spots and dryness. It targets issues like age spots and freckles with its whitening care.

The lotion's essence penetrates the stratum corneum, helping to improve skin elasticity and create moisturized, translucent skin while addressing dullness concerns. It's easy to use—simply apply an appropriate amount to a cotton pad or your hands and spread it over your face after cleansing.

7 long-selling toners

With so many toners available, choosing the right one at the drugstore can feel overwhelming. Here are seven toners that have been bestsellers for years, consistently earning great reviews. Next time you’re shopping, skip the stress—just follow this list!

Shiseido: Elixir Balancing Water I

Shiseido's Elixir Balancing Water I gives the skin uniform elasticity, providing a continuous dewy glow. Its moisturizing effect imparts smooth, even elasticity to the skin, allowing it to maintain that coveted glow daily. Available in three types—light, moist, and rich—to suit different skin types.

Orbis: U Lotion

Orbis, dedicated to enhancing skin's natural vitality, developed its U Lotion to boost cellular power and amplify inherent beauty. This ultra-penetrating, highly moisturizing toner provides ample hydration, allowing the skin to experience unprecedented suppleness and moisture retention from the inside out.

Shiseido: Revital Vital-Perfection All-In-One Essence

Shiseido's Revital Vital-Perfection All-In-One Essence (I)  effectively penetrates the stratum corneum, providing abundant moisture. It improves skin issues that can change overall facial impression, imparting firmness and elasticity.

It prevents skin damage and roughness caused by daily UV exposure or dryness, creating plump, smooth skin. It helps adjust the skin's moisture environment, nourishing a texture-rich and translucent stratum corneum.

Itrim: Botanical Essence Lotion

Itrim's Botanical Essence Lotion has a smooth texture that spreads easily and penetrates the skin without leaving residue on the surface, providing moisture without stickiness. It contains Tateyama water, which enhances the effects of beneficial plants. With a pleasant fresh scent, its rich moisture transforms dry skin into soft, glowing skin, resulting in a transparent, firm, and vibrant complexion.

Pola: Red B.A Volume Moisture Lotion

Pola's Red B.A Volume Moisture Lotion has a jelly-like, elastic texture that helps soothe the skin. Containing beauty-enhancing moisturizing ingredients, it gives the skin a moist, glowing firmness and emits a fresh floral scent.

The product has passed sensitivity testing (though this doesn't guarantee no allergic reactions for everyone) and is low-irritation, making it suitable for sensitive skin.

SK-II: Facial Treatment Essence

SK-II's Facial Treatment Essence contains over 90 percent of SK-II's signature ingredient Pitera, a natural ingredient derived from a special yeast fermentation process, helping to prevent skin dryness, balance skin texture, and provide high-level skin repair. With consistent use, it creates naturally moisturized and radiant skin.

Sana: Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Moisturizing Lotion NA

Sana's Nameraka Honpo Soy Milk Moisturizing Lotion NA is rich in moisturizing ingredients like soy milk ferment, soybean extract, and soy protein. It continuously infuses inner skin with moisture and abundant elasticity, creating bouncy, soft skin from the inside out. The ingredients use non-GMO soybeans and are free from fragrances, colorants, and mineral oils, making it gentle on the skin and safe to use.

5 toners for men

Compared to women's skin, men's skin generally has lower moisture levels and loses moisture more easily. Coupled with the damage and irritation from shaving, along with dryness issues, men need to moisturize their skin effectively to keep it healthy. Let's take a look at five recommended toners specifically for men.

Fiveism x Three: Urban Hydro Gel

Fiveism x Three Urban Hydro Gel is formulated for men's skin that's prone to both oiliness and dryness. With 97 percent of natural ingredients, it replenishes the skin's needed moisture, providing an all-day fresh skincare experience. It's also comfortable to use after shaving, creating a healthy, moisture-retaining skin texture. It's especially helpful in winter for alleviating skin roughness.

Shiseido: Uno Skin Barrier

Based on research on men's skin, Uno Skin Barrier Lotion includes new moisturizing ingredients to maintain long-lasting hydration, protecting men's skin that's prone to dryness damage. It also contains M-Tranexamic acid, oil-control powder, and dual hyaluronic acids to inhibit melanin production, prevent spots and freckles, and address skin roughness, making dry fine lines less noticeable.

Nivea Men: Sensitive Skin Lotion

Nivea Men’s Sensitive Skin Lotion is designed for shaved skin, protecting it from irritation. The lotion contains anti-inflammatory dipotassium glycyrrhizate, evening primrose extract, and moisturizing hyaluronic acid to prevent skin issues like roughness and flaking caused by dryness. Its smooth, non-sticky texture is free of alcohol, fragrances, and colorants, gently moisturizing the skin.

Bulk Homme: The Toner

Bulk Homme’s The Toner contains trehalose, which helps penetrate rich beauty and moisturizing ingredients into every corner of the stratum corneum, providing a moisturizing yet refreshing comfortable feel. It also enhances the skin's natural defense mechanisms, improving issues like excessive sebum secretion, skin roughness, and oiliness, preventing the skin from easily losing its moisture balance.

Orbis: Mr. Skin Lotion

Orbis' Mr. Skin Lotion is dedicated to creating clean, refreshing skin with transparency for men. It contains CIS-promoting ingredients, Fine Spiral Extract EX, penetrating collagen, and penetrating hyaluronic acid, gently moisturizing from the outside in. It helps tighten skin, balance oil and water, maintain skin health, and results in a skin condition full of elasticity and moist radiance.

Buy Japanese toners tax-free on WAmazing Shop

If you want to avoid carrying a lot of shopping bags, we recommend buying tax-free on WAmazing Shop. You’ll not only find toners, but also a variety of beauty products and snacks. Plus, you can choose to pick up your items at designated train stations and also airports, making it super convenient to grab everything before heading home. It's a great way to save time for more sightseeing.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.